Terrain	4.8
Service	4.6
Crowds	4.4
Activities	3.7
Value	4.7
Overall Rating	4.4

29 Viewer Reviews

Tyler from New Hampshire	Feb 24, 2008
Overall Rating:  5.0

Go to Jay its worth it!!

Ryan from Detroit, Michigan	Feb 3, 2008
Overall Rating:  4.6

Was at Jay Peak on December 21st, 2007 and it was incredible. It had been dumping all week and I think it was a record December or at least the best in recent memory. As a result I saw Jay Peak at its best or very near.

Obviously the reason you come to Jay Peak is the trees, and there were a ton of great glades to ride. They have glades for all levels so beginner glade riders can get their feet wet. The Mountain is fairly large for east coast standards and I was surprised there wasn't much ice. This was probably due to the unusual conditions I was lucky enough to experience. As far as terrain goes, I preferred the stateside to the tramside, although there were good runs on both sides. I had a ton of fun riding the groomers on stateside and just finding my own little back country stuff off to the side.

As far as activities go, there isn't much to do besides ski/snowboard. Jay Peak is in the middle of nowhere. It wasn't really a big deal for me because I was road tripping to new places every day anyways, but just thought I'd let you know. As far as crowds go, the lodge was completely full at lunch time so I guess a lot of people were there, but on the mountain it seemed pretty empty. It's a big mountain so I guess people are easily dispersed. The best part about Jay Peak is the price in my opinion. Unlike that rip off of a resort south of there (Stowe), lift tickets are actually reasonable at Jay Peak.

During my trip I visited Jay Peak and Stowe in Vermont; Tremblant up by Montreal; and Mont Sainte Anne, Le Massif, and Stoneham nearby Quebec. Out of all the resorts, I'd have to say Jay Peak was my favorite. I definately want to go back again!

Lee from nj	Aug 22, 2007
Overall Rating:  3.8

This year will be our 6th.family ski week at Jay. Why, snow, snow depth in the trees, steep terain, value best tree skiing in the east and most of the west, no crowds on holiday weeks. Worth every bit of the extra hour or two drive as a snow insurance policy that has saved the trip more than once. Weekends the powder will get trashed out by every college kid whithin 100 mi. if they say they got a lot of new snow. No other ski area in the east even comes close to the type/variety or sheer amount of tree skiing. Everything is free game there but, be carfull not get lost in the woods or you will be doing a lot of hiking in deep snow and possibly spending the night there.
Could use a few more good solid cruising trails and a lift to access the mid mountain. Can be very windy and cold with lift holds on upper mountain. This is the price to pay for all the upsides to Jay. Many times there is no snow/rain or ice at other areas to the south but at Jay it is snowing. The area is good with kids because they won't get mowed down on the trails by some yahoos like at other places south. We don't even think about other people on the trails there.
Last year my son and I were skiing there on the Fri of Presidents week it snowing heavy all day (12"of white smoke) even with the Tram and the flyer down on wind hold the other two lifts had no lines all afternoon.
Top to bottom powder runs on trails and in trees with no one in sight.. Jay Peak is very hard to get to so
don't even consider making the trip it's not worth it.
This way it will stay the same.

Eric from Lancaster, MA	Jun 5, 2007
Overall Rating:  4.4

Jay Peak is the best mountain by far for variety of terrain and quality of terrain. No where else in the East, except for Tuckermans and other backcountry spots, can you find cliff drops and powder like what Jay has. I recently went after an early March dumping of two plus feet, and had the best skiing experience of my life. Never been out west, but can bet Jay rivals the experience you get at places like Copper and Vail. Not to mention they offer $43 tickets for 19 and under. Places like Killington and Sugarbush will clean out your wallet and mob you with crowds before they can even come close to the skiing experience at Jay.

Felipe Esguerra from FT lauderdale, fl	Feb 23, 2007
Overall Rating:  4.6

Jay is cold cold cold and very very windy, that said now let me tell you why jay is great, We visited smugs, sugar and jay in this trip and it right after the big storm that dumped like 50" in each resort. By the time we got to jay most of the snow was blown of the trails except in the glades, jay was the resort that got the most snow in the storm but due to the wind had the least snow in the slopes. The thing about jay is the trails and glades, the probably offer the best terrain in Vermont a lot of variety for everyone, and the best glades I have ever skied. The crowds were there but you don't feel them since they get dispersed in the mountain. If you mind to ride long or the cold weather this resort is amazing, just make sure you have plenty layers, we had to buy some over there, don't under estimate wind chill of -15 F, the forecast was calling for high 20's F but somehow in the summit it was incredibly cold. The food is cheap, the service is amazing, and the views are incredible, people are friendly and Canadians are are not as rude as New Yorkers that ski south Vermont. Ski Jay You will love it.

Ben Bradley from Barton, Vermont	Feb 11, 2007
Overall Rating:  4.6

I have skied here for 3 years at least 5 times a year. I've gotten to know the trails pretty well. Jay has some nice trails going through the woods a lot of powder down through there, but also has a nice begginer zone and always has an easy way down. I recomend the Jet a fairly steep trail on the stateside of the mountain or the goat run and kokamo from the quad we vermonters call the flyer. Be careful the flyer drops into kind of a rivine and on a windy day you can have windchills close to 50 below it get's colder but they close it off. I also like the little known international restaurant. for less then going to the cafeteria you can get a soup and salad buffet with side dishes like breadsticks liverworst pasta etc. A great place.

Blake from Madison, Connecticut	Dec 24, 2006
Overall Rating:  4.6

As stated above, Jay Peak is for those skiers that are about skiing more than partying after skiing. The glades are remarkable. I used to love Sugar Bush (more than Jay) before I began skiing Jay's Glades. Once you experience the glades, there is just no going back to piste (trail) skiing. I have never skied at a better mountain in terms of terrain in my entire life. Skiing at Jay is the best skiing experience for an advanced/expert skier anywhere on at least the East Coast... Skiing is more important than partying... If you want to party you can always party anywhere.

Greg Morell from Northampton, MA	Nov 28, 2006
Overall Rating:  4.2

Snow quality is the best in the East. This is a mountain that is not over groomed. It's paradise for people who love to ski in the trees and on craggy trails that are full of surprises.

Their unusual gondola looks like an architectural impossibility, but it works smoothly and comfortably, but is standing room only. It's a dual tram, get in early and stand by the windows.

The value factor here is also a big plus. No high rise hotels, this is country comfort, quaint B&B's, and affordable eateries.

The Jay experience is unique and for people who enjoy being out on the mountain. Can't wait to ski it again.

tony summit from rochester, n.y.	Nov 16, 2006
Overall Rating:  3.6

lots trees wonderful mountain on a powder day. We caught a spring weekday storm and had the mountain to ourselves. We stayed a the Jay hotel. Great deal with lift ticket meals and lodging, it really has the feel of old time new england skiing.

Tdog from Cohasset Mass	Nov 5, 2006
Overall Rating:  2.6

Jay Peak is a woods type mountain. If you are a stay-on-trail type skier and woods are off limits, Jay Peak stinks. Ice Ice Ice. Period. You'l hear there's a new 1 foot of snow on the mountain you will get to the parking lot and thats were all the snow is. The winds are so high they blast all the snow off the trails and into the woods or parking lot. Also if your the type that hates cold weather it is a pretty cold mountain, the cold doesn't bother me. Well Jay Peak is a challenging mountain. Not for the family.

Michael from Toronto	Oct 19, 2006
Overall Rating:  4.4

Jay Peak keeps calling us back...

my family only can do one ski holiday per year...we live in Toronto and there is no way we are going to blow any money at Blue Mountain...

This year (fall 2006) we started the process of looking at other resorts to go to...as a change of pace.

We've done Jay Peak as a family 3 times...and my wife and I have been there 2 other times before we had kids.

I called around...then went to the ski show looking for deals...then called around some more.

Nothing could beat Jay Peak's price and so, we are returning yet again.

The facts are indesputable.
1. this is a friendly mountain...Bill, the owner is personable and makes you feel welcome

2. the ski school is just incredible...the instructor last year went out with my son for hours at a time, even though the weather was brutal...that's commitment.

3. the snow lands in Jay. When other resorts have nothing, Jay usually has something.

Now, for some not so great things...that may affect your decision.

1. there ain't a huge amount going on either on the mountain or in the town. This means if want nightlife, go to tremblant or killington. For me and my family, we're too dead to do much after a full day of skiing

2. there are some really lame green runs that run off blacks and blues...not much you can do, I guess..but be aware

3. it can be windy, but the place is pretty big, so you can avoid that area and ski in other areas

All in all, if you are looking for an affordable vacation with great folks and very few crowds and lots of snow (particularly in DEC when a lot of resorts struggle) JAY IS YOUR ANSWER.

Ray Gehring from New Jersey	Oct 16, 2006
Overall Rating:  4.8

Jay is the tops!!! Stay in a little town called Montgomery Center for the nightlife. Tons of quaint restaurants and bars and several cozy bed and breakfasts, favorite is the Phineas Swann on Main Street. Never had a day on Jay without snow. Always light crowds since is so isolated, vs most other East Coast Resorts. My Bed and Breakfast sold me lift tickets at a third off, great deal. I heard they take Canadian dollars at par too. Bernies and the Belfry are my favorite restaurants in town, both have bars and TV's and are filled with quirky locals as well as us tourists. My wife doesn't ski and loves all the antiques shops in the area. If you love to ski and aren't looking for crazy prices and wild nightlife, this is the place for you. Can be quite romantic, especially with the outdoor hot tub at the Phineas Swann!!!

john mcallister from vail, co	Sep 11, 2006
Overall Rating:  4.8

Jay is a true skiers mountain. its harsh, gnarly and gets a lot of snow. If you are going to complain about the cold, wind, or lack of acivities i know a lovely place to learn how to surf in san diego. If u like awesome terrain big snows and the way life as a skier should be ski jay.

Eric from Dartmouth, MA	Jul 24, 2006
Overall Rating:  5.0

The first time I was here was when i was 9 or so. The parking lot itself was a wind storm. Just wait till you're over the first hill in the high-speed qaud. I thought that was bad enough, untill I got to the top of the the mountain in the tram. I couldnt see 2 feet in front of me, AND i was being blown backwards. Also, the green glades near the Queen's Highway T-bar, were once a blue, and i was going in them with my brother, and i got stuck in the powder for like 10 min.
Besides the wind, the rest of the day was great. Great snow. great service, friendly people, and great food. After that, I came back here 2 more times (every time was just as windy)!
If the wind part scared you, just go to the Jet Triple, the snow is just as good, and its not evan close in the wind factor.

Kevin Johnson from NJ	Mar 23, 2006
Overall Rating:  3.2

If you are planning a trip to Jay be sure that you are all about glades. Like other reviewers, I found the glade riding to be excellent--great snow, fresh lines to be had all day. Jay also seemed to be more open than other resorts, with a ride anywhere feel. However, after getting about 2 1/2 feet of snow right before my trip I expected great conditions all around. If your looking to ride regular trails--run far away from Jay. The fierce winds, particularly at the top, ensured that there was an abundance of sheer ice, rather than snow on the trails. The terribly slow lifts, and horribly ineffecient tram guaranteed that if you were riding the short trails you'd spend a great majority of the day slowly riding uphill, instead of down (even during the week with no lift lines). If your looking to do anything other than ride or ski, head anywhere else, as I have never seen a more desolete resort. Lodging was not as much of a bargain as it should have been considering the backwoods locale (I've gotten much better deals at other VT resorts).

To sum up, go to Jay if you love to ride glades and not much else.

Darryl K. Lewis from Jamaica, New York	Mar 16, 2006
Overall Rating:  3.2

Skitown Review

Ski resort reviews can be helpful only if you know the skill level and skiing perspective of the person authoring the review. I am a middle age advanced skier with no interest in jumping off cornices or cliffs. I will often at high speeds hit a small lip in the terrain and get a little air, but that’s about the extent of it. I venture in and out of moderate mogul fields in an attempt to become a better all-around skier, but I tend not to spend a majority of my ski day dealing with the bumps. Me and two other ski buddies just finished a week’s skiing trip in Vermont and Quebec, Canada. We selected lodging in East Burke of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont (see my review of the Village Inn of East Burke). We were just a 5-minute drive from Burke Mountain, a 60-minute drive from Jay Peak, and a 90-minute drive from Mont Sutton, Quebec. With that said, here are my impressions of Jay Peak:

Terrain – Rated 5.0:
Every large reputable ski area has at least a few intimidating expert slopes and a variety of cruisers with a sprinkle of scenic beginner trails, and Jay is no exception. But what is exceptionable about Jay is their policies authorizing you to ski anywhere you feel the need within their confines. No matter how steep the terrain, how wooded, how rocky, and how dangerous the pathway, if there is snow and your skis can fit, the terrain is yours to ski. Usually I reserve my 5.0 terrain ratings for the large western resorts, which display all the terrain variables such as a variety of glades, mogul fields, chutes, cliffs, couloirs, and above tree line skiing. But if you are good enough and daring enough, you can have a near backcountry skiing experience at Jay. Jay therefore becomes an expert’s paradise, especially if s/he is an adept tree skier. Jay is unique in that most ski areas tend to overstate the difficulty of the terrain. They will post double or triple diamonds with scull and crossbones signage. At Jay, they tend to understate the difficulty. The most difficult terrain is simply labeled as a black diamond trail or area. I decided to take a trail named “Upper Can Am.” It was labeled as a black diamond with a simple sign indicating “Advanced/Expert Skiing.” It turned out to be one of the steepest trails that I have ever taken. Make sure you have your act together if you are going to hang out in Jay’s black diamond territory. Just adjacent and to the left of Jay’s main peak, is another smaller peak of maybe 1,200 vertical feet. Approximately seven black diamond trails radiate from the summit of this peak and are mostly straight fall line descents. The steepness makes them entertaining (one such trail called “UN” is moguled as well) but their destinations tend to be predictable and devoid of any surprising twists and turns. By now I have intimated the beginners, but have no fear. The lower part of the main mountain has approximately 12 separate beginner trails as well as two areas of manageable glades.

Service – Rated 3.0:
At Jay, nothing jumps out at you as examples of exceptional service, but also on the other hand, I have no harsh criticisms concerning their abilities to deliver an effective skiing experience. Jay sometimes becomes crowded, but the lifts, lodge cafeterias, parking facilities and other services seem to work efficiently on behalf of all the patrons. Jay even had passably flavored chili, but the meat was mushy and microscopic.

Crowds – Rating 2.0:
Jay is not only popular with us Americans, but it is also the only big mountain game in town with respect to the Canadian Eastern Townships, and the southern suburbs of Montreal. We skied Jay the following day on the last Saturday of our stay. It had rained the evening prior and conditions had become somewhat icy. It had gotten pretty crowded. Several areas where there were merges of trails resulted in severe incidents of congestion. The results produced mayhem and carnage with bodies strewn all over the place. Heaven help you when the winds increase and interrupt the operation of the tram. The lift lines become almost unbearable.

Activities – Rating 2.0:
I didn’t see a half pipe, but there were a couple of terrain parks. Jay is in boonieville, so there appears to be nothing else happening in the vicinity. There is the nice little town of St. Albans, Vermont about an hour and quarter away. There you will find some very good restaurants.

Value: - Rating 4.0:
Jay’s lift tickets are generally what would be expected from a resort of similar size and challenge. But by staying at the Village Inn of East Burke, and taking advantage of their almost 35% lift ticket discount, Jay becomes somewhat of a bargain. My bowl of chili at Jay’s main base lodge cost me almost $5, which is comparable to what most ski resorts charge.

In summary: I enjoyed Jay Peak. It’s challenging but also a rewarding place to ski. I had an absolute blast and enjoyed all three of the mountains we skied. Remember, my perspective is focused on the terrain, and weighted with regards to the actual experience of skiing (Terrain/Crowd factors). With that in mind, my favorite of the three resorts are in order as follows: #1, Mont Sutton; #2, Burke Mountain; and #3, Jay Peak. If you are interested, go to the review sections of the aforementioned resorts to see my comments on each one.

John from 123082	Feb 20, 2006
Overall Rating:  4.6

if Jay gets a bad review, its because the reviewer didn't hit the right day. it gets hyped up alot, so a let down is easy.

it does have steep terrain. someone on here's saying its easy for them, well i dunno, its not valdez or the chugach heliskiing steeps, but it does have eastern-style challenge. definitely has the goods.

snow- don't need to say much about it- it is the east, so its not Utah- but they get the lightest- and the most.

lifts- yeah, the tram kinda blows. but its there- and no other style of lift may work in that situation with that exposure. the freezer (green mountain flyer) is good- but they do need one more that is shorter, accessing half way up from the base, or from mid-mountain to the top just to make the goods availible better.

it is cold, but you're skiing. so if you think its too cold- FIND ANOTHER SPORT.

this place is up there on the top 5 in the east for sure. oh yeah, stay at the snowline lodge. those people are nice, and it has a cool, tiny little pub run by the owner's son. cheap and good food and drinks

Jeffrey Burock from Bristol, RI	Feb 15, 2006
Overall Rating:  4.6

Just got back from several days at Jay. Jay is by far the best mountain in New England and compares favorably to places I've skied in the Rockies (such as Vail, Breckenridge, all the Aspen mountains). Unfortunately they completely missed the Blizzard of 2006, however the following two days meant 10" of dry powder and no people (maybe 250 people at the whole mountain). The glades are without parallel anywhere I've skied in the US. We stayed in the town of Montgomery Center, a small hamlet 8 miles down the west side of the mountain on the Trout River. Highly recommend this town- lots of good eats, essentially no cars/ traffic. Jay is a true skiers mountain. It is not a Killington or even close to Mt. Snow. Very popular with Canadians (Montreal is only 1 3/4 hours away drive). Excellent deal on lift tickets if you stay at a place affiliated with the Jay association. Only downside is the cold winds on the right most high speed quad (once you get near the summit that thing starts vibrating and every bit of exposed flesh on your body freezes solid. The cold is a great deterrant though, keeps away the lightweights, ie Mt. Snow type skiers/boarders.

JAY PEAK...when you're bored the rest, come to the best.

brian from Pittsburgh, PA	Jan 31, 2006
Overall Rating:  3.6

I guess for all the good things I hear about Jay Peak I went in expecting a lot of good and a little bad. The truth is, Jay Peak is a great resort, but only for those who are beginners to intermediate looking to develop their "out-of-bounds" and reaction skills. Yes I will be the first to admit that Jay has great snow, but the glades and chutes are not very steep and can be skied aggressivly without even scoping your line. The "backcountry" was more like back-yard skiing - the hike was easy and the runs were ultimately short (and yes, I went with a local so I did hit the right hills). The one technical part of Jay I liked was right next to the Tram - you climb up a few rocks (about a 2 minute hike/seek), pick a line, and run through wind beaten pine trees into a decent glade decent. I liked this because not too many people run this part of the hill.

As for the town - perfect!!! Small, quiet, friendly, inexpensive, and cozy! I felt right at home and made plenty of friends right away. I have to recommend the "Lodge at Jay"! It was Great!

In closing, if you live close to Jay Peak (within 5 hours), its a must ski! If not, and you are a talented skier looking for a big mountain experience, save your dough and head to Jackson Hole, Big Sky, or Whistler.

Eric from Maine	Jan 11, 2006
Overall Rating:  5.0

Only one word to describe it..........SNOW,SNOW,SNOW

Jim from Vermont	Jan 10, 2006
Overall Rating:  5.0

Terrain is absolutely great, always plenty of snow, great jumps
Crowds are usually on the light side due to some cold temperatures, but what do you expect; it's Vermont!!
This mountain is filled with great trails, and is a great place to stay overnight.
COME TO JAY PEAK, YOU'LL LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan from Denver	Dec 29, 2005
Overall Rating:  5.0

I have been so used to skiing out west so I decided to take a trip to New England. I saw many brochures about Jay Peak so I decided to check it out with my family. As we got there it was a very quick check in. Plenty of snow their every day! Great condo's and townhouses, some people may say it's too cold so thats why you do a couple of runs and then relax and go out when you are ready. I will now come to Jay Peak every year!!!!!!!

Megan from Northern Massachusetts	Dec 28, 2005
Overall Rating:  5.0

This is the best place I have ever been too in my 35 years of skiing, great service, tons of snow, great views, an overall great family vacation!!!

jabba	Dec 28, 2005
Overall Rating:  4.8

Let me just say that the people who wrote bad reviews about Jay are dorks! Jay is the best skiing experience in the entire eastern North America. I've skied the Rockies and Sierras and the glade experience at Jay still ranks at the top. Most snow. Best glades. Expert skiers only. If you can't handle the cold, plan a trip to Florida instead...I hear that's where all the old fogies head for the winter. Trust me, we enjoy not having to wait in the lift lines and won't miss you on powder days. Can't say anything more, I've already said too much! Don't go to Jay Peak, it's horrible.

Dean from boston, Massachusetts	Dec 26, 2005
Overall Rating:  5.0

Best place in New England!!!!!!!!!!!

woolfoot from Burlington, Vermont	Dec 24, 2005
Overall Rating:  4.4

We had a weekend place a few miles from Jay for years before I ever went to the mountain in winter (with visitors who were skiers). On that first day - though I had never skied - I felt I never wanted to leave. In my later 30s then, I will never be a great skier. I am just trying to gather skill enough to do a little terrain with my now 7-year-old daughter, who skis it all. There is something magic in the woods here... I only hope that it doesn't get trampled to death. It was downright crowded during the vacation weeks last year and some of the new townhouses are too close to the road- something of Killington is intruding. I hope the Jay Powers That Be will remember that their place of business is first and foremost a holy mountain.

Stinky from Toronto	Dec 13, 2005
Overall Rating:  4.2

Great hill! I go 2 to 3 times a year. about a 6 hour drive from toronto Canada and I have had fresh snow every time I have been there. Only problem is it is getting busy and the lines are getting longer....so don't go so there is lots of fresh stuff for me.....I'm going this week-end!!

Jay peak rocks

Erik from VERMONT!!!!!!!!!!	Dec 3, 2005
Overall Rating:  5.0

Yea to all you fakes people... Jay is way too cold and crowded stay away ;) only real skiers and riders ski there, its never really that cold.

GO TO STRATTON!!!

Steve M from Bermuda	Nov 28, 2005
Overall Rating:  4.6

Don't go to Jay. It's too far and cold. Go somewhere close and warm, like Florida. Leave Jay to those of us who enjoy actually skiing in/on deep powder, trees, in the middle of nowhere, the way skiing is supposed to be. At night, you eat and sleep, and get up ready to ski again. If you want to party, stay in the city. If you want to ski, join me at Jay.